PACAF Joins Allies, Partners in Indian Air Force-led Exercise

JODHPUR AIR FORCE STATION, INDIA - Pacific Air Force units were among 28 nations participating in or observing India's largest multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti 24 Phase II.

The Indian Air Force-led exercise began Aug. 30 and fostered diverse ties that strengthened cooperation in counter-air, reconnaissance, airlift, air defense and close air support.

"Tarang Shakti is an opportunity to combine cultures and perspectives while building security and interoperability with our participating and observing partners. The spirit of collaboration and embracing diversity is key to not only better executing flying maneuvers, but also to broaden people's minds," said Indian Air Marshal AP Singh, Indian Air Force vice chief of the air staff.

Adding to that collaboration were four Pacific Air Force affiliated units and units with the Royal Australian Air Force, Sri Lanka Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force and United Arab Emirates Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force units and aircraft participating included the 25th Fighter Squadron's A-10 Thunderbolt II, the 148th Fighter Wing's F-16C Fighting Falcon, the 909th Air Refueling Squadron's KC-135 Stratotanker and the 139th Air Wing's C-130H Hercules. These airframes and units enabled close air support, combat airlift, aerial refueling, and multirole fighter capabilities with the multinational fighters, reconnaissance, airlift, and attack aircraft crews and personnel participating.

In addition to tactical capabilities, the multiple nations' involvement in this exercise supported the cooperation established in Phase I, enriching connections between joint and allied forces that enhance the capacity to maintain strategic advantages and shared initiatives.

"Tarang Shakti provides the United States the opportunity to continue to build upon the strong strategic partnerships we've developed with India and the other nations participating in Tarang Shakti 2024," said Lt. Col. Justin Davis, 25th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander and deployed forces commander in India. "We hope to accomplish this by tactically integrating with partner nation air forces in the large force exercise construct that Tarang Shakti provides. By flying and training alongside our counterparts, we work towards a shared understanding of the complex Indo-Pacific operational environment."

This unified understanding is important because decisions must be made quickly during contingency operations. According to Davis, clarity created by shared experiences and perspectives is especially helpful in the Indo-Pacific area of operations.

"There is no AOR (area of responsibility) that is more important than the Pacific," said Davis. "As allies and partners, we grow stronger by developing relationships through exercises like this. The more that we come together to train and to share, the more we learn from and understand one another in ways that allow us to operate most effectively in this complex and diverse AOR."

The perspectives shared here enable greater precision to operations in the air and on the ground, enabling a greater capacity to work together in any environment.

"What you learn on the ground is just as important as what you learn in the air," said Singh. "In regard to geopolitical landscapes, Tarang Shakti provides a unique opportunity to refine and learn about one another's operations, strengthening the security and collectability of our partners."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.